Freezing Points of Various Substances.
Mercury freezes at 40° below zero, and melts at 39°. Ether freezes at 47° below zero; wine freezes at 20°; sea water freezes at 28.3°. Alcohol has been exposed to 110° and 120° below zero without freezing. Granite decomposes at a red heat. The second’s pendulum, of 39.139 ins. is lengthened by 30° of temperature 128th of an inch, or 3 vibrations in 24 hours.
The heat conducting powers of metals, etc., are as follows: Gold, 1000°; platinum, 981°; silver, 973°; copper, 898.2°; iron, 374.3°; zinc, 363°; tin, 303.9°; lead, 179.5°; marble, 23.6°; porcelain, 12.2°; fine clay, 11.4°.
1 lb. of coke melts 94 pounds of ice; 1 lb. of coal, 90 lbs.; 1 lb. of wood, 52 lbs.; 1 lb. of charcoal, 95 lbs.; 1 lb. of peat, 19 lbs. The capacity of the solar heat all over the globe is the ability to melt an icy covering 46 feet in thickness.